NHL: Flyers nip Rangers, 2-1, for first win of the season

Philadelphia Flyers' Wayne Simmonds (17) celebrates with Ilya Bryzgalov, of Russia, as Claude Giroux (28) and Luke Schenn look on after their 2-1 win over the New York Rangers in an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

PHILADELPHIA — Faced with the prospect of their worst start to a season - or half-season - in franchise history, the Flyers exhibited desperation and determination Thursday night, banding together for a taut and entertaining 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers at Wells Fargo Center.

Playing without two of their top forwards, the Flyers carried the play all game long, and solidified the victory with superb penalty killing work in the final period. That enabled them to win their first game of this shortened season, avoiding what would have been something no other Flyers team had ever “achieved” - four consecutive losses to open a season.

It probably helped that the Rangers, also 1-3, had played into overtime Wednesday night before beating Boston at Madison Square Garden. But it wasn’t just an overworked Rangers team that produced this victory.

The Flyers were dominant in the opening period, but like most of the others in their three-game slide of a start, it didn’t produce any goals. If anything, it enabled a Flyers team without Scott Hartnell (foot fracture) and Brayden Schenn (suspension) to gain some needed confidence, outshooting the Rangers in the first by 11-5.

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The breakthrough finally came at 11:53 of the second, and after a wave of Flyers pressure finally wore on goalie Henrik Lundqvist (31 saves).

Starting his fourth straight game, Lundqvist was his usual stubborn self, especially showing that on a glove save on Braydon Coburn.

But shortly thereafter, Matt Read dug a puck out of the corner and threw it to the point, where Nick Grossmann caught it, moved right then wristed it netward. It hit Rangers center Brad Richards, deflected off Wayne Simmonds’ skate and went past Lundqvist for 1-0.

Four minutes later, the Flyers cashed in on the power play. A Claude Giroux bullet went wide, but bounced back into play. Sean Couturier chipped it toward the net, and it bounced off the post amid the chaos. There in the right spot was Jake Voracek, who slid home the rebound for a 2-0 Flyers lead over what appeared to be a worn down Rangers team.

Of course, it wasn’t going to be so easy.

Coburn essentially opened the third period with a highsticking infraction, and thereby allowed the Rangers to get right back into it.

With the Flyers killing beautifully, Marian Gaborik finally took control of the puck and gained the zone, sliding a shot slotward. It was blocked in front, but Gaborik leaped on a rebound and found Taylor Pyatt alone at the corner of the net. A pass and Pyatt tap-in later, the Rangers had halved the lead.

That was followed by a questionable call on Phantoms callup Tye McGinn, whose stick went up while falling to the ice ... and he was whistled for a four-minute double minor penalty. Almost immediately, it went from bad to worse, as Grossmann was called for hooking.

That created a two-minute, two-man Rangers advantage, but they would only manage one terrific scoring chance. On that, Ilya Bryzgalov was very fast in kicking away a point-blank one-timer by Rick Nash, preserving the lead.

Back in control, the Flyers protected well, especially after Lundqvist was pulled for the final minute. They did this without the services of defenseman Andrej Meszaros, who didn’t play the final period due to an apparent injury.